With National Signing Day a couple of weeks away, the new Florida football staff played host to standout wide receiver and former USC Trojans commit Caleb Douglas.
The 6-foot-3 wideout from Missouri City, Texas, highlighted what it’s like to visit the Gators in the Billy Napier era.
A personal touch from Napier was a common highlight among visitors and one that really impressed Douglas.
“Really just the interaction with coach Nape. I’ve never done a visit that so much the head coach talks to you and interacts with you. He really wants to talk to you and try to get to know you,” Douglas said.
“It was really just laughs and saying, ‘you’d be a great fit.’ Just laughs, we were chilling.”
Familiar faces and connections played to the Gators' favor in a methodical effort to give recruits a personalized experience. For Douglas, it was the former USC tie with wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and player host Avery Helm who hails from Douglas’ Missouri City, Texas.
Colbert provided a face of continuity in Gainesville for Douglas.
“It feels great. I know he’s got me, and I’ve got him.”
An insider to life as a Gator, Helm attested to coach Napier and his vision, providing Douglas with an affirmation of confidence in the new Gators’ coach.
“He was saying that coach Nape, he came in quick and got everybody on their feet and they’re just going to flip the program.”
Highlights of the weekend included touring two pillars of Napier’s vision for the program going forward. On Saturday the players got to see the new football facility that is under construction and then on Sunday a tour of what will soon be the apartment complex where football players will be housed.
“Man, we’re all impressed with the living. The homes they’re going to have us in are like crazy.”
Douglas went on to describe what the new living situation at The Standard is like.
“It was two to a room, but you’ve got a big living space, your own bedrooms, and then it’s a full-size bed and then you’ve got this big closet and restroom, that’s the standard.”
The new Gator Standard left Douglas with a clear sense of the Gators as his current top choice.
“Florida’s winning. They’ve got a great vision for myself and my family and then I trust the coaches and all of that.”
Douglas intends to make his decision on National Signing Day Feb. 2. Though Florida still has some competition for his signature with one official visit already set up and possibly another in the works.
“I might visit Oregon on the 28th,” said Douglas. “Notre dame offered not too long ago, there’s a couple of schools.”
Douglas is the No. 617 rated prospect in the nation according to the 247 Sports Composite.